Game #1243: Zero Escape - The Nonary Games

 Guess you won't be running out of doors any time soon? 

 A few years ago I played 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors on the DS, and it was pretty decent. It was no Danganronpa, but I liked it, so I knew that I'd eventually try the entire series. Lo and behold, Zero Escape: The Nonary Games, a two-in-one package that includes the first two games. Both games follow a similar premise, it's a visual novel game that spreads out its narrative scenes with puzzle rooms that you must figure out, as well as decisions that will take you through alternate routes. Both games also feature a cast of 9 characters that must play a deadly game that involves doors and numbers. It's way more interesting than it sounds.

 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors 

 This is actually a remake of the DS original, so I won't delve too much into it. It offers a new alternate 'Adventure Mode' that changes the text so as to cut on the descriptions and make for an altogether speedier read. It's completely optional, so that's fine by me, and you can swap at any moment by pressing R1. The transition to a single screen was done very well, I never felt the interface got in my way.

 The only way to get the true ending is to go through every route and scenario, and it actually plays into the overall narrative, believe it or not, and in this version you can quickly go into the menu screen and go back to any scenario, making getting every route a cinch. In the original it was back to the start every single time, and you even had to solve the puzzles again! This seemingly small additions makes this the best way to play the game.

 Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward

 This time around, the nonary games have changed a little, so now it's all about betraying or allying with the other 9 players, and the objective is to reach 9 points in order to open the exit door. I found the premise to be more interesting, although having to go through every route, to get the true ending, meant having to betray characters, which made me feel awful!

 The first game had a lot of pretty JPEGs, but this one is in full 3-D, so actually examining and exploring every puzzle room was made more fun. The puzzle's are way, way harder, so I wouldn't feel too bad about having a guide on hand.

 That said, while the story is better... the dialogue was sorta lame and felt kinda meme-ish? The main character, the guy whose thoughts you read as your own, has some rather perverted lines that I felt were in poor taste. Look, I hate fanservice and I hate the anime pervert-stereotype character, but having to play as it was kinda annoying.

 All in all, I liked The Nonary Games, this collection makes for a pretty convenient way to experience both games as the porting job was excellent.

 8.0